Wigan Pick Up £25,000 Fine After Toon Game!

Last updated : 26 February 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

It was hardly a blood bath, and Wigan boss Paul Jewell said the match was played by "two honest teams". Jewell had six players booked, incurring an automatic £25,000 fine.

Ryan Taylor and John Filan were the heroes for Wigan in their battle to beat the drop, while Alan Wiley stepped into the firing line once again.

Jewell: "John kept us in it with his penalty save, and two other outstanding saves as well. Considering that was only his second game of the season, he looks like he has never been away. His first was at Watford in midweek, which is a difficult place to go for a keeper, but he was excellent.

"As for Ryan, it's ironic how football works out sometimes. He broke a metatarsal playing against Leeds in the FA Cup over a year ago, then worked exceptionally hard to regain his fitness, only to break his leg in the reserves at Newcastle last April. Just under a year later, he goes and scores a winning goal in the Premier League, so I'm really pleased for him.

"I think it was crazy that we had six players booked in a game between two honest teams. To be fined £25,000 for that is a nonsense. It was a game that certainly did not warrant that many bookings. But every foul at the moment seems to be drawing a booking, and that cannot be right. We are not a dirty team."